Osun state Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has directed a phased rehabilitation of selected water works and water pipeline networks across the state to improve the water supply to people of the state.
The governor who made this known in a statement by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed in Osogbo, added that the state government is also interfacing with the Federal Ministry to resolve the delay created by the mismanagement of the ‘ILESA WATER project’ with particular reference to the contractor and the project managers.
However, a special adviser to the governor, Dr Bashiru Tokunbo Sallami while confirming the rehabilitation in the water sector, affirmed that the administration has a holistic programme to address the challenges facing the water sector in the state.
According to him, the administration adopted a mix of solutions which includes sinking boreholes in wards across the state even though he acknowledged that the 332 boreholes are not sufficient to cater for the citizen’s water needs.
“It was the realization of this reality from the beginning that Mr Governor approved the phased rehabilitation of the state’s water pipeline networks. The goal is to systematically address the many technical hitches facing the water supply in the state.
“Details from the State Water Corporation showed that the agency mostly operates on old Asbestos Cement (AC) pipes laid several decades ago and in a terrible state of functionality. The upgrade that is ongoing for Ede and Osogbo water works will replace the old run-down pipes with the HDPE pipes, now the modern durable material in the sector.”
“Aside from the upgrade of the pipeline networks, the water filtration systems for Iwo are also approved for rehabilitation and repairs to allow water to reach present areas of coverage. The same filtration project is ongoing for Eko-ende which serviced Ikirun, Iragbiji, among other adjacent towns.
“Once the water filtration systems for both Eko-ende and Iwo water works are completed, the administration plans to issue new approvals for the pipeline networks upgrade for both water schemes.”
Meanwhile, the present administration in the state has denied reports from some quarters that N14 million was the cost of each of the 332 boreholes, describing the report as false as each borehole cost far less than insinuated, the full details to be made available during ‘Ipade Imole’ event.
“Governor Adeleke has recently announced to the state that full accounts of projects and programmes will be rendered to the public at the “Ipade Imole”, an interactive accountability platform.
“There is no smoking gun. In fact, when the full details are out, the public will applaud governor Adeleke for such unprecedented prudence.
“The borehole project is already benefiting the people and reports from all over the state show that Osun people, going by series of videos and pictures, are already enjoying water supplies from these boreholes.
“At Ipade Imole, civil society, media and all stakeholders will have sufficient time to read, appraise and question projects and policies. This administration is pro-people with a full commitment to transparency and accountability. That is why Governor Adeleke approved of Ipade Imole”, the statement concluded.
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